The above controller concept could be what the NX will be controlled with... or not!

As documented in depth in a recent NeoGAF thread by user Rösti, Nintendo filed a patent in October 2014 for the above U-shaped controller and the patent saw an international filing on September 18, 2015, and publication on April 22, 2016, via WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization).

Somewhat reminiscent of the Xbox 360's Wireless Speed Wheel, huh?

Most likely the controller will be applied for fitness games following Nintendo's interest in "quality of life" products. It's not a regular controller either as it boasts an accelerometer, gyrometer, temperature sensor and load sensor. Time to get fit in the 21st century!

A rough English translation of the patent application reads: "The main object of the present invention is to provide a novel training equipment, training system and an input device."

Below are more images of the patent's drawings:

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More interestingly, the translations refer to "portable terminals" that can apparently be connected with the device to display a screen, exemplified in the image below (and more in the source):

Well this is definitely material for further speculations. Is it for the NX or to add once and for all the U in WiiU? What other applications will it have? And will it actually be released?

SOURCE

 

[Justinde75]

you're also probably in a different age group then i am but enough about that. Call it whatever you want, i have a different opinion about it and clearly other people also do wich is perfectly fine

Yeah im 11 and my friends are 8

 

[Deleted User]

it may be the new controller, but not the "main" controller. maybe as a racing add-on...

 

[gameboy]

If the free-from handheld/controller can ALSO double as VR, then this controller makes perfect sense.

https://gbatemp.net/threads/baseless-nintendo-nx-speculation-thread.387352/page-34

 

[jumpman17]

I like the the diagram that shows you the proper angle to poop at.

 

[Foxi4]

...if all you'll ever play are action adventure games. There's so much room for improvement it's not even funny any more.

Gamepads are great universal controllers, they're at least "acceptable" in each gaming genre. There are superior genre-specific designs like racing wheels for racing games, mouse + keyboard for FPS/RTS or flight sticks for flight sims, but all things considered, a gamepad will "work" with all of the above. Can you improve the current gamepad design? Yes. Does that include changing the shape into a "U" for no apparent reason, ergonomic or otherwise? No.

 

[DiscostewSM]

Lew Zealand: Get your boomerang U controller here. Guaranteed fresh. Throw the U away, and it comes back to me!

 

[Foxi4]

It's still idiotic. You know what, why don't we all go calling Xbox '' XBOXY''. It's still an idiotic name given for Nintendo just because Sony ends with an Y.

People don't use "Ninty" because of "Sony", they do it because it shortens the word and gives it a cutesy, friendly affect. You're adding a second layer of connotation here that nobody identifies with, I've never heard that connection made and I've been calling Nintendo "Ninty" or "Big N" for years. "Ninty" is a classic form of word clipping, if anything - take it from a linguist.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipping_(morphology)

 

[mashers]

This controller is ridiculous. It looks like a RudeBoy.

 

[Mazamin]

Now I only wait for a banana-shaped controller and I can die in peace... Really Nintendo, why not using a normal joypad?

 

[Abcdfv]

Now I only wait for a banana-shaped controller and I can die in peace... Really Nintendo, why not using a normal joypad?

Who would want to use a normal joypad for Wii Fit U?

 

[DKB]

Ah, Nintendo. You never fail to disappoint.

 

[Saiyan Lusitano]

What???
Looks like this

This is what reminded me instantly of! Probably a fake, I hope.

 

[Logan Pockrus]

Listen, I know good ol' Ninty hasn't been making the best decisions, but come on, they would never in their right mind use this as the primary controller for the NX! Come on. They're not complete idiots.

(And if I'm wrong, Ninty needs a time-out for a while....)

 

[jimmyleen]

I like the the diagram that shows you the proper angle to poop at.

Perhaps its the proper way to shove the u?

 

[DJ-Yoshiman]

Prototype controllers from Nintendo have always been ridiculous, and then they modify them until they're actually comfortable. No worries even if this is true.

 

[Saiyan Lusitano]

Listen, I know good ol' Ninty hasn't been making the best decisions, but come on, they would never in their right mind use this as the primary controller for the NX! Come on. They're not complete idiots.

(And if I'm wrong, Ninty needs a time-out for a while....)

Have you forgotten about the Wiimote? It was a horrible decision because it lacked analogue sticks, analogue triggers, internal battery and not really useful for games that needed a traditional controller. I get that Nintendo was trying to go for "innovation" but dear god, keep it optional.

 

[Logan Pockrus]

Have you forgotten about the Wiimote? It was a horrible decision because it lacked analogue sticks, analogue triggers, internal battery and not really useful for games that needed a traditional controller. I get that Nintendo was trying to go for "innovation" but dear god, keep it optional.

I completely agree. However, I feel as though this new..."controller"...is a bit, how you say...out there.

And by that I mean it sucks way worse than the Wii remote.

 

[p1ngpong]

I think this controller will be far more superior than the Wii U gamepad at gathering dust and making third party devs run a mile!

 

[frogboy]

here's my humble opinion--they'd do best to either stick with a classic design like the wii u pro controller, or redesign the wiimote.

two hands/classic, one hand/innovation.

 

[DarkAce0]

Another gimmick console *sigh*.